Raiders forced me out

A POSTMASTER has quit the job he loves after four armed raids in less than three years. Bernard Kelly, 68, retired from Shaw Hall post office in Hyde after more than 32 years following a series of attacks.

A POSTMASTER has quit the job he loves after four armed raids in less than three years.

Bernard Kelly, 68, retired from Shaw Hall post office in Hyde after more than 32 years following a series of attacks.

He has been left hospitalised, his staff have been threatened with guns and knives, and tens of thousands of pounds have been stolen.

The father-of-five decided to retire yesterday saying the robberies were a contributing factor.

He said: "The attacks were not very pleasant. When they came in with guns we could not tell whether they were real or not. Towards the end, we were worried that anyone wearing a hooded top, or in a hurry, would be a criminal, and I could not go on like that."

The raids began in August 2002 when two men walked in, one holding a paving stone. The other hit Bernard on the head with a hammer before escaping with cash.

In December 2003, he was forced to open the safe at gunpoint, while robbers held a female customer at knifepoint. Three months later, gunmen on motorcycles again forced him to open the safe while holding a gun to the neck of a woman who was five-months pregnant.

Conspiracy

And in June 2004, robbers made off with é50,000 after threatening staff and customers with a silver handgun. Police mounted surveillance and arrested three men, who were jailed last week after admitting conspiracy to commit robbery at Manchester Crown Court.

Bernard had to drop the price of the business by é15,000 in order to sell it. He said: "It was difficult to sell and retire. But I had to because of the slowdown in post offices and the possibility of raids, and crime is getting worse in the area, an all-night shop down the road has been robbed countless times.

"Before these attacks we were only burgled once, in 1997, before that, there was nothing."

Bernard, who took over the post office from his mother-in-law, refuses to let his terrifying recent experiences sour his view of a "very pleasant" job.

He said: "I've been touched by the help and concern that the post office and the police have shown. They really let you know that you're not up against it alone.

"I wouldn't say that I was ever afraid to go to work, though towards the end I did become a bit more cautious. But I was never in fear of my life."

Bernard is more concerned by recent changes in government legislation that have taken trade away from post offices. He said: "I still think being a postmaster is a great career, but I would give anyone thinking about it two pieces of advice - diversify and duck."